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NM tops list for childhood hunger

The Associated Press

Posted:
06/12/2013 03:01:41 AM MDT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—New Mexico finds itself at the top of yet another somber list.

The national food bank organization, Feeding America, says its 2013 Map the Meal Gap study shows that New Mexico is the highest for childhood hunger in the U.S and has seen hunger grow for the third year in a row.

The 2013 study shows that more 30 percent, or nearly 160,000 children, are experiencing hunger. Three years ago, when the first Map the Meal Gap study was released, New Mexico was at 27 percent for childhood hunger.

The study also looked at the overall population and its rate of hunger. It shows 417,780 people, or 20 percent of New Mexicans, do not always know where they will find their next meal.

Melody Wattenbarger, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank, calls the results appalling.